Share this:

ALBANY — Gov. Paterson made an unusual personal visit to a closed-door gathering of Senate Democrats last night in a dramatic effort to break the stalemate that has paralyzed Albany for the last three weeks.

In his 1½-hour powwow with lawmakers, the Democratic governor said he stressed the need to end their leadership feud with Republicans before midnight Wednesday morning, when numerous local laws — including the 2002 statute that gives the mayor control over the school system — expire.

“I explained to them what I’ve been explaining to all of you: What the ramifications would be of not resolving this in the next 48 hours,” Paterson told reporters. “It wasn’t a prolonged discussion. They had heard how I feel and we sort of moved on from there.”

The meeting came just hours after senators from each party, for the sixth consecutive day, avoided a special session called by Paterson by gathering separately in the chamber and adjourning after doing no business.

The chamber has been deadlocked at 31-31 since mid-June.

Paterson’s personal appeal follows days of unusually harsh attacks on him by Senate Democrats as he increased pressure on lawmakers to resolve the dispute.